EMBRACE THE WIND continues the story of Aislynn Maher, heroine of FAR AWAY HOME, an Amazon bestseller for five years in the categories of Historical Fiction-US and Romance-Western.
What is the cost of living life on your own terms? For a young woman on the American Frontier, the price can be high.
Aislynn Maher trusted the wrong man. To conceal her disgrace, she abandons her job, her home, her family and friends. She turns to the raw, contentious US marshal of the Wyoming Territory, Orrin Sage, who is hiding a guilty secret of his own. Setting out alone, Aislynn brings her optimism and determination to Cheyenne. But in this rough town, with its prejudice, violence and lawlessness, it’s not just difficult to do what you believe is right─ it's potentially deadly. This unlikely love story details real triumphs and tragedies from frontier women’s letters, diaries and newspapers of the day, and places Aislynn in the center of their history. EMBRACE THE WIND illuminates an intimate picture of the American frontier; the story of the women who changed the West and helped forge the freedoms we enjoy today.
Following graduation from college, I worked in three different mayoral administrations for City of New York. My jobs primarily focused on equal rights and women’s issues. In 1979, I was instrumental in starting the nation’s first Sexual Harassment Prevention and Complaint Program. In the early 80s, I produced a radio show on women’s issues. When I left the City of New York, I counseled abused women and taught political science and history.
In 2011, I published the novel FAR AWAY HOME, about a young woman who left New York City in 1868 to start a new life in Utah. Up to that time, most of my writing focused on professional journals and texts. When I ventured into fiction, I wrote short stories. One received honorable mention in a NOW short story contest and was published in Creative Woman.
The novel began as a chapter for a history book. I conducted my research in the American west for three years; I even drove a covered wagon (check out the Youtube video at www.susandenningauthor.com). When the history book project dissolved, I used my research to form an historical novel.
As a self-published, unknown author, I never imagined anyone would read FAR AWAY HOME. But tens of thousands of readers did. Tantor Media notice its success and released the audiobook version in August 2015.
To my great surprise, many requested the next chapter of Aislynn's story. The sequel, EMBRACE THE WIND, debuted in March 2017. Both books are available at http://amzn.to/2dPQE9c
FAR AWAY HOME and the sequel, EMBRACE THE WIND, are popular book club reads. Book club questions are available on my webpage- www.susandenningauthor.com. I am also available to Zoom into book club meetings. Write to me at farawayhomenlp@gmail.com with your request.
This is a great women's history read about the pioneer days in Cheyenne, Wyoming in the late 1880's. The thing that struck me more than any other was the idea that women were more property owned by men than human. Just another form of slavery in many cases. The hardness of these pioneer women's lives is overwhelmingly apparent. I came across a book in the 1970's, 'Wisconsin Death Trip,' that this story brought to mind again as it is a collection of newspaper stories and photographs depicting life in the late 1800's Wisconsin. This two-book series had me looking at that book again and I have a feeling of great pride in women's accomplishments in enlightening and taming the wild west. Great book for women and readers interested in our country's history.
I especially liked the way history and fiction are combined. I wanted the story go on and on. I have always been fascinated by the way women were so strong in the 1800's despite the hardships.
I didn’t know how much I had to learn about the history of women’s rights in America! This is an interesting window into the myriad challenges for women as the West became a part of the US, told through the experiences of one determined woman as she carves out a life for herself. And it’s unfortunately timely as we prepare to fight for those rights yet again.
The second book in this series was much better than the first. I read it in less than 24 hours because the story was so good. Things that bothered me are that the author spends long drawn out pages on one event and then skips briefly past others that seem more important. For example, one incident takes 5 pages and a death takes 2 sentences? It just doesn't make sense. This book ended better than the first book; however, I still feel like some parts are written weird. The main character says and acts totally contrary to what she is like in the rest of the book. I can't give specifics without spoiling. The main character needs to be consistent. She was smart most the book but then in one part was completely dense and stupid? She is strong and smart mouthed most the book but is completely helpless and meak in another incident? Besides these flaws I was totally drawn into the story. I loved every bit. I really wish there was a third in the series.
I stepped back in time while reading Embrace the Wind. The author's extensive research provides a rich background, but never overshadows this wonderful story. Wish there was a third book!
Fascinating lessons in women's history! It was the pioneer women who brought civility to the untamed wild west and this book gives a good picture of what life was life for these brave women. The sequel to "Far Away Home," this book picks right up from a cliff hanger and finds a young woman named Aislynn stepping off a train in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her story is woven with real historical facts and people as she encounters lawlessness, violence and prejudice.
The treatment of women and Native Americans was terrible! When Aislynn becomes the school teacher for a group of children from a nearby reservation, she becomes a target of those who hate, but determines to bring about change, including a fight to end women being legally considered property. She even helps an abused woman escape a violent home, an act that by itself could have gotten her killed. She dares to attend meetings usually reserved for men only and pushes for the women of Wyoming to be heard through the power of voting.
She has other things weighing on her, too. One being the consequences of trusting the wrong man, which is what caused her to board a train to Wyoming in the first place. Though living in a certain amount of fear (of him tracking her down, which he later does), she carries on and finds support from some good women friends, as well as a tough and rough-around-the-edges US Marshall named Orrin. She learns how to handle his personality, though, and a romance develops.
The conclusion was very satisfying, but I sure wouldn't mind seeing Aislynn's story continue. From what I understand, the author used information taken from the letters and diaries written by real women who lived and breathed the wild west when it really was wild. Their sacrifices, strength, and forward-thinking determination was an important part of both women's history and American history overall.
Embrace the Wind: An Historical Novel of the American West (Aislynn’s Story Book 2) is by Susan Denning. This second book in the series is not quite as engaging as the first book, although it is good. It lacks some of the spontaneity that Aislynn shows in the first book. This book covers from 1870-1875. Aislynn Maher has returned to Cheyenne, Wyoming. This was the place she and Johnny had purchased a wagon and set off with a wagon train. Now she was alone but carrying a child. She was using her married name and everyone assumes the baby is Johnny’s because they didn’t know her from the last time she was here. She had left Utah headed for New York and Tim Nolan; but upon learning she was pregnant with Liam Moran’s baby out of wedlock, she couldn’t face Tim and his family. She wrote to Liam but he did not answer her. So now she was returning to Cheyenne and the one man who would help her. He helped her and Johnny once and now she is hoping he will help her. Orrin Sage met her train and took her and her luggage to the same rooming house she and Johnny had stayed in before. Would Sage help her? Could she find a job? Would she be able to support herself and her son? What other interesting jams will she find herself in? The book is very good and gives a lot of history of the West as well.
I loved this book even more than the first one, which I really liked very much. The historical events of women's role in the early pioneer days and how it differed from Territory to Territory and state to state because of the very real circumstances was fascinating. I loved the historical context of the story and as someone deep into genealogy, with ancestors who also helped open the west, I could really get a sense of the physical and spiritual struggle just to survive. The reality of the relationship between Aislynn and Sage was so well drawn. Both had been so deeply damaged in their past by seeking Love and desperately wanted an intimate relationship that their caution with each other put them on edge with the reader never knowing if it would consummate or not. I could not put the book down and yet I didn't want it to end. I wanted to see Brendan grow up, have siblings, and have struggles and a ranch of his own so Aislynn could surrender to the next generation. This writer is good. She has a gift for drawing excellent characters and moving them through an honest story so beautifully.
Aislynn, having lost her husband puts her trust in a man who immediately lets her down. She runs to the only other person she knows she can trust, leaving behind her everyone that she knows and loves. Life is hard for women of the frontier but with Orrin Sage’s help Aislynn forges a life for herself and makes friends in the unfriendly Wild West.
I loved this book and its predecessor. I became emotionally invested in the strong female lead, Aislynn, quickly and followed her journey on the edge of my seat. The historical content was accurate and the story of the women and children surrounding her was emotional and difficult. I cheered for the heroine every step of the way and every time she fell, so did I.
This book is a romance story, but that isn’t all it is. If you want to know how frontier women struggled to survive, this book will show you and humble you. I am looking forward to hearing more from this author.
I had read the first book, Far Away Home, several years ago. Although I remembered little bits of it, I knew I had liked it, and the genre, so bought this one, which was better. The main character thinks like a modern woman, but is set in a Pioneer period. I appreciated the author's authentic research. Through her characters I could put myself in that time to better understand the harsh realities about how legally unprotected women were a short 100 years ago! But aside from that platform, the characters are well defined and mostly believable. I liked having read the first book first, as my memory of it details were refreshed. Though full of obstacles and consequences of bad decisions, a few tense and tragic episodes, this is a happy read because there is maturing, resilience, faith, forgiveness, and it models for us the human ability to recover and find joy in life.
Too often, in historical fiction, the author tells a story without paying attention to wether it fits the time period he/she has selected. This book is better than that, and closer to being literature than many of others I have read. Denning paints a tangible scene, and the reader can almost see, hear, and smell the scenes. Wyoming is dawning with revolutionary ideas; universal suffrage as means to eliminate lawlessness. Austin, our heroine, is determined, hard working, and dedicated. Sage is the epitome of mountain man, trail boss, and lawman. Together, can these friends create a better Cheyenne? Read to discover the answer among the twists and turns!
I have just finished "Embrace The Wind",the second and final book in the two book saga . After reading the review of the story, I was willing to dive in. Starting in New York City ,the author introduces us to Aislynn the main character,as well as other well defined people who make up a cast of streaming lives. The writer Seamlessly goes with the story from one act to another like a play. It flowed along at a good pace,about the time I began to tire of A situation,our author had us embroiled in yet another situation that left me turning pages to read the out come. Bravo!
History told through the life of a young woman, in the American West.
All the way through this book, we are reminded of the sacrifices women have made in American History. The women in this era were tough, they had to be. They were abused, over worked and many died in childbirth. I remember a commercial that said, You've Come A Long Way Baby, and women definitely have. I Love Orrin Sage, he was a Frontiersman that was raised rough but recognized a Lady that would eventually change his life. I both laughed and cried at the hard life these people led. Susan Denning has written a wonderful historical adventure.
This is the second and hopefully not the last in the series. Read them in order and become more aware of history. This book shows a true lady and how she adopts and overcomes hurdles she faces. It also shows the modern depths the state went thru and makes you wonder why the rest of the country had taken so long to catch up. Aislynns story is one women of all ages will enjoy and one that should prove and person, man, women, child, race or ethnic origin is created equal in God's eyes and image and can do anything they want if they only believe in them self's and never give up. This is an excellent series everyone should read.
The main character is feisty and brave. You want to root for her all the way through this two book series. This book is set in the Wyoming territory when women 1st had the right to vote and had problems with the Indians in Cheyenne Wyoming . Women were overworked, mistreated, and many died in childbirth yet those who survived created a civilized community. They used their power to vote and serve as jurors to make sweeping changes. The lives of how American Indians were mistreated and educated was truthfully represented in this book. I appreciated that it wasn't glossed over. It has adventure, humor, horror, and a lot of plucky heart.
I liked the continued story of Aislynn, full of all the same things that made me enjoy the previous story; love, danger, adventure, courage. I was pleasantly surprised at the culmination of new characters that each carved out their place in this story, with unique endearing qualities making them easy to befriend. The mystery of our heroin and Sage was well disguised and revealed like a gift that cannot wait to be opened. Loved it. Hoping there may be another chapter to tell of Aislynn's life.
I thought the first book of Ms Denning's, Far Away Home was one of the best I've ever read. But she knocked it out of the park with this one. If they allowed 10 star rating that's what I think it deserves. Such wonderful characters and great story about what women went through back in the day. And how they struggled to make it better for the women that followed. So that we women of today can be thought as equals to men, and not looked down on as being inferior to them.
Embrace the Wind was even more entertaining than Ms. Denning’s previous book, Far Away Home. Together they tell the story of Aislynn, an Irish girl who leaves New York and grows into a smart, brave pioneer woman of the West. Her adventures kept me turning the pages well past bedtime. I was quite sad to see her story end, although it was a very satisfying conclusion. I learned much through the author’s descriptions of the hardships of pioneer life. Don’t miss this engrossing book!
This was the second book in this series and I loved it as much as the first. The true west was told. The struggles, the blood, sweat and tears, the triumphs and the joy. All these are a part of the civilization of the wild west. Susan Denning was able to show us all of these in her series. It takes a special person to choose the life these daring people encountered. It amazes me that so many people to up those challenges. Where would we be without them?
EMBRACE THE WIND BRINGS TO LIFE THE 1870's IN CHEYENNE, WOMING
This was my first book by Susan Denning, and when I first got to reading it, I felt that I wasn't going to enjoy it. After a day or so, I decided to give Embrace the Wind another look. I'm so glad that I had a chance to get to know the colorful and lovable characters of this book. After really getting into the story of Aislynn and Sage, I had a hard time getting to bed before 1:00 a.m.
I enjoyed this book, even though it was mostly predictable. I found that I really cared about the characters and was content to let their story unfold slowly.. I also found the historical references to be interesting. I didn’t realize that this was a sequel to an earlier book about the main character, Aislynn. Had I known, I would have read that one first, but it wasn’t necessary to my enjoyment of book two.
I truly enjoyed the honesty of the stories in this and previous book. Young people should read and learn what life was and still is in so many ways for women.
The double standard that were and still are. We have come a long way but, we have yet so far to go to have the respect and equality we deserve. Thank you for the history lesson and for the strong women you create for us to learn from
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters I came to love in Far Away Home were faithfully and vividly expanded in this story. The ending was also true to the character of the rest of the story in that it was happy but I'm a realistic way. It was also very satisfying as a reader to have Tim's story completed. look forward eagerly to other tales by Ms. Denning and would love to read Joan's story if it were ever to be written.
The stories of the early frontier life for women in the 1800's and the changes they helped bring about have always interested me. Aislynn settles in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory as a young widow and tries to hide the fact she is with child. She is hired to teach Indian children and her friends befriend her - Orrin Sage, the U.S. Marshall and his friend Cap, Joan a school teacher and Amy a poor student.
I was disappointed in the first book in the series because the ending left you hanging. I skimmed through parts of this book to find out how it ends, but then realized it was worth reading the whole book. I loved the scene with the arrogant suitor towards the end of the book, such an ingenious solution to the problem. I’m glad I read both books now, but this was my favorite. So often in life we don’t realize what we have until it is almost gone.
Escape romance fiction filled with historical facts
A quick read, contrived characters and plot,but enjoyable as a romance novel set in Wyoming. One spirited young woman has the chance to start over after several losses when she runs from her past discretions in Utah and settles in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Aislynn creates her own family after several rough starts. I cheered her along the way and the kindnesses she bestowed on the folks who befriended her.
This book is the continuation of Aislynn's story Far Away Home. It is every bit as good as the first. This is historical romance at it's finest .The plot is unique and interesting .You really care about the characters and what happens to them. The true historical details enhances the fictional part. I wish this author had written more novels. She deserves high praise,.
I won a signed copy of this book on goodreads in echange for an honest review. The book did follow the standard historical romance formula, but did give some enlightment of womans rights prior to the suffergate movment at the beginning of the 20th centruy. if you like historical romance than this is the book for you.